Baxter: We will let our internationals manage own return to duty for Exeter

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has revealed that he has allowed those of his squad members who have returned from the World Cup a degree of autonomy in how they manage their playing load upon arrival back at the club.

“We want to look after them by having them involved with deciding when they take time off rather than me just saying take a week off – that would be no decision,” he said after his side’s 31-12, four-try bonus-point win over La Rochelle.

With Exeter prioritising European competition this season, as they have failed to break out of the pool stages in the past three seasons, their internationals have opted to wait until they take a break.

“Sport doesn’t just have to fatigue

Joint decision: Rob Baxter will discuss time off with Exeter’s World Cup contingent you, it can build you up and give you energy,” said Baxter, who believes that having players who were involved in a run to the World Cup final such as Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-dickie and Jack Nowell provided extra emotional energy to break La Rochelle’s eight-month home unbeaten run. “The group of international players is actually energising for the rest and that is what people sometimes misunderstand about sport,” he added.

Slade, who England head coach Eddie Jones admitted should have started in the World Cup final, played a crucial role in attack, scoring a spectacular second-half intercept try running from his own half, as well as helping to marshal Exeter’s defensive line.

The likes of the 26-year-old, who was on the bench in the World Cup semi-final and final, would actually have played fewer minutes this season than club colleagues.